Kentucky Derby: Japan's Undefeated Forever Young Breezes At Churchill Downs

Scheduled to work Thursday morning for the Derby is Ribble Farms, Michael Eiserman, Earl Silver and Kenneth and Dave Fishbein’s Honor Marie for trainer Whit Beckman.

Scheduled to work toward the Longines Kentucky Oaks are the Todd Pletcher-trained trio of Whisper Hill Farm’s Leslie’s Rose, Fawzi Abdulla Nass’ Manama Gold and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners’ Candied plus Willis Horton Racing’s Tapit Jenallie for trainer Eddie Milligan Jr.

CATALYTIC – After coming to the track for the first time Tuesday morning, Tami Bobo, Julie Davies and George Isaacs’ Catalytic returned Wednesday to gallop a mile and a half under exercise rider Olaf Hernandez.

Trained by Saffie Joseph Jr., Catalytic arrived at Churchill Downs Monday morning after vanning from South Florida.

“He just galloped the mile and a half,” said Tristan Ford, an assistant to Joseph. “We’re happy with everything. He’s feeling good.”

Catalytic, the Florida Derby (G1) runner-up behind expected Kentucky Derby favorite Fierceness, is on target to work Sunday.

CATCHING FREEDOM/ENCINO/JUST A TOUCH – Trainer Brad Cox’s Derby trio of Catching Freedom, Encino and Just a Touch all galloped about 1 ½ miles Wednesday at 7:30 a.m. and schooled in the starting gate.

All three horses are scheduled to breeze Saturday morning.

Cox stated Encino’s jockey has yet to be confirmed for the Kentucky Derby.

DOMESTIC PRODUCT/SIERRA LEONE – Trainer Chad Brown’s Derby duo of Sierra Leone and Domestic Product galloped a mile and a half during the 7:30-7:45 training window for Derby and Oaks horses.

Kriss Bon was aboard Sierra Leone, who gave Brown his third Blue Grass Stakes (G1) victory. Brown’s other Blue Grass winners were Good Magic, who finished second in the 2018 Derby, and Zandon, who finished third in the 2022 Derby.

Sierra Leone is owned by the partnership of Peter Brant, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Westerberg and Brook Smith.

Peter Roman partnered Domestic Product, winner of the Tampa Bay Derby (G3) in his most recent start. Klaravich Stables owns and bred Domestic Product.

Both colts are scheduled to work Saturday, weather permitting.

DORNOCH/SOCIETY MAN – Trainer Danny Gargan’s two Kentucky Derby hopefuls both galloped a miler and a half under exercise rider Pricilla Schaefer.

Winner of the Fountain of Youth (G2), Dornoch is owned by the partnership of West Paces Racing, R. A. Hill Stable, Belmar Racing and Breeding, Two Eight Racing and Pine Racing Stables. He put in his morning work at 7:30. Luis Saez has the Derby mount.

Coming out at 9 o’clock for his morning exercise was Wood Memorial runner-up Society Man, who is owned by the partnership of Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, West Paces, GMP Stables and Carl and Yurie Pascarella. Frankie Dettori has the mount on Society Man.

The two colts are scheduled to work in company Saturday morning with Saez aboard Dornoch.

“I think they worked fine together last week and going to do it again this week,” Gargan said. “This time, I’ll put Dornoch on the inside of Society Man. Another day of training down and one closer to the Derby.”

ENDLESSLY – Amerman Racing’s Endlessly had a normal training day Wednesday, galloping 1 ½ miles around 5:45 a.m.

The winner of the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) is scheduled to work Saturday.

FIERCENESS – Repole Stable’s champion Fierceness galloped a mile and three-eighths under regular exercise rider Danny Wright for trainer Todd Pletcher.

Winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) last November at Santa Anita to wrap up the Eclipse Award as champion 2-year-old, Fierceness is scheduled to work Friday morning with John Velazquez aboard.

GRAND MO THE FIRST – Granpollo Stables’ Grand Mo the First exited his six-furlong work of 1:16.46 on Tuesday morning at Gulfstream Park in good order and is on schedule to van to Churchill Downs on Thursday.

Trainer Victor Barboza Jr. will be here Friday, which is a scheduled walk day for Grand Mo the First.

HONOR MARIE – Trainer Whit Beckman was “calm, cool and relaxed” Wednesday morning watching TwinSpires.com Louisiana Derby (GII) runner-up Honor Marie train.

“I don’t really get nervous when I run a horse in a race I think they can win,” Beckman said. “It’s a weird feeling but right now I don’t feel too nervous.”

Honor Marie is scheduled to work Thursday morning with jockey Ben Curtis in the irons.

JUST STEEL – BC Stable’s Just Steel was the first Kentucky Derby contender to train Wednesday morning with Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas closely watching aboard his pony.

The son of new Hall of Fame inductee Justify galloped about 1 ½ miles.

MYSTIK DAN – Lance Gasaway, 4 G Racing and Daniel Hamby III’s Mystik Dan galloped an easy mile and a half for trainer Kenny McPeek.

Mystik Dan, the winner of the Southwest (G3) and most recently third in the Arkansas Derby (G1) at Oaklawn Park, is scheduled to work Saturday. Brian Hernandez Jr. has the Derby riding assignment.

RESILIENCE – Emily Bushnell and Ric Waldman’s Resilience had an easy gallop at 7:30 a.m. Wednesday.|

The winner of the Wood Memorial (G2) is scheduled to school in the paddock a couple times before the Derby, according to trainer Bill Mott.

STRONGHOLD – Eric and Sharon Waller’s Stronghold, who arrived at Churchill Downs Tuesday afternoon at 4 o’clock from his base at Santa Anita, jogged a mile Wednesday morning with trainer Phil D’Amato’s wife, Sherri, in the saddle.

Weather permitting, the Santa Anita Derby (G1) winner is scheduled to work Saturday with Joe Talamo up.

ALSO ELIGIBLES – Welch Racing’s Epic Ride, third in the Blue Grass Stakes (GI) in his most recent start, galloped Wednesday morning at The Thoroughbred Center in Lexington, Kentucky, for trainer John Ennis.

Trainer Jeff Engler reported Mugatu is back in consideration for the Kentucky Derby also-eligible list. The fifth-place finisher of the Blue Grass (G1) is based at Belterra Park in Ohio.

SHAPING UP: THE KENTUCKY DERBY – Here are the horses (with jockeys and trainers) that are qualified for the Kentucky Derby and those on the also-eligible list (in alphabetical order with AEs listed last in preference order):

Catalytic (Jose Ortiz, Saffie Joseph Jr.); Catching Freedom (Flavien Prat, Brad Cox); Domestic Product (Irad Ortiz Jr., Chad Brown); Dornoch (Luis Saez, Danny Gargan); Encino (TBA, Brad Cox); Endlessly (Umberto Rispoli, Michael McCarthy); Fierceness (John Velazquez, Todd Pletcher); Forever Young (JPN) (Ryusei Sakai, Yoshito Yahagi); Grand Mo the First (Emisael Jaramillo, Victor Barboza Jr.); Honor Marie (Ben Curtis, Whit Beckman); Just a Touch (Florent Geroux, Brad Cox); Just Steel (Keith Asmussen, Wayne Lukas); Mystik Dan (Brian Hernandez Jr., Kenny McPeek); Resilience (Junior Alvarado, Bill Mott); Sierra Leone (Tyler Gaffalione, Chad Brown); Society Man (Frankie Dettori, Danny Gargan); Stronghold (Antonio Fresu, Phil D’Amato); T O Password (JPN) (Kazushi Kimura, Daisuke Takayanagi); Track Phantom (Joel Rosario, Steve Asmussen); West Saratoga (Jesus Castanon, Larry Demerritte).

Also Eligibles: Epic Ride (Adam Beschizza, John Ennis); Uncle Heavy (TBA, Butch Reid); Seize the Grey (TBA, Wayne Lukas); Mugatu (TBA, Jeff Engler).